2005–06 Australian bushfire season

A moderately extensive bushfire season, particularly in western Victoria where fires were most prominent, occurred in mid-late January 2006 as conditions persisted across the state.

2005–06 Australian bushfire season
NASA MODIS burned area detections from June 2005 to May 2006
LocationAustralia
Statistics
Date(s)Winter (June) 2005 – Autumn (May) 2006
Burned area>180,000 ha (440,000 acres)
Buildings destroyed500+ total
  • 75 houses
  • 400+ non-residential structures
Deaths5 total
  • 2 CFA firefighters
  • 1 St. John Ambulance volunteer
  • 2 other
Non-fatal injuriesNumerous
Season

Timeline

January 2006

Bushfires in Victoria were prominent in mid-late January 2006 as conditions permitted across the state. With the loss of 4 lives and 57 homes. On Australia Day, a CFA volunteer died in the Victorian fires. Arsonists were charged with lighting fires that spread through western Victoria in late January. Two people died in The Grampians when their car was overcome by the Mount Lubra bushfire.[1]

Over the month a total of 500 fires were recorded in Victoria with 359 farm buildings destroyed, stock losses of 64,000 and 1,600 square kilometres (618 sq mi) of private and public land burned out.[2]

Fires of note
State Start date Deaths Injuries Houses lost Area (ha) Local govt. Impacted communities & destruction Duration Ref.
VIC 31 December 2005 2 11 10,000 ha (25,000 acres) Northern Grampians Stawell
  • Vineyards, orchards, flower farms and 68 non-residential structures destroyed
  • 1,600 head of livestock perish
 [3][4][5]
NSW 1 January 2006 1 10 25,000 ha (62,000 acres) Junee Bethungra, Illabo & Junee
  • 4 shearing sheds, many other non-residential structures and vehicles destroyed
  • 21,000 head of livestock perish
 2 days [6][7][8]
1 3 4,500 ha (11,000 acres) Gosford Woy Woy, Umina Beach & Phegans Bay
  • A St John's Ambulance volunteer suffers a heart attack and perishes
  • 7 vehicles, 3 non-residential structures and a RFS station destroyed
 2 days [7][9][10]
VIC 19 January 2006 2 40 130,000 ha (320,000 acres) Northern Grampians Moyston, Pornonal, Dunkeld, Mafeking, Willaura & Halls Gap
  • Two civilians perish
  • 73 non-residential structures and several dozen vehicles destroyed
  • 65,000 head of livestock perish
 32 days [3][11][12]
VIC 22 January 2006 5 6,700 ha (17,000 acres) Greater Geelong Anakie
  • A hall, 31 non-residential structures and 13 vehicles destroyed
  • 1,000 head of livestock perish
 [3][13]
VIC 23 January 2006 1 2 Murrindindi near Yea
  • A CFA volunteer perishes
  • Several non-residential structures destroyed
 [14]
VIC 17 February 2006 1 Indigo Barnawartha
  • A CFA volunteer perishes
 [15][16]
VIC 6 March 2006 6 3,100 ha (7,700 acres) Pyrenees Snake Valley, Scarsdale & Smythesdale
  • 20 vehicles destroyed
 8 days [17][18]
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References
  1. "Bushfire deaths inquest begins". The Courier. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
  2. "Bushfire history". Victoria State Government. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  3. Smith, Ross (12 July 2006). Debrief Outcomes Significant Victorian Fires; December 2005 - January 2006 (PDF). Country Fire Authority. pp. 74–100. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  4. Jackson, Andra (4 January 2006). "Cost of Stawell fire grows as aid effort starts". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  5. "Stawell-Deep Lead New Year's Eve fires remembered". Stawell Times-News. Fairfax Media. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  6. "Generous support coming in for farmers affected by bushfires". dpi.nsw.gov.au. NSW Department of Primary Industries. 6 January 2006. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  7. "Section 44 Fires" (PDF). Bush Fire Bulletin. NSW Rural Fire Service. 28 (1): 2–17. 2006. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  8. "Former Junee Mayor reflects on 10 year anniversary of New Year's Day bushfire". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2016.
  9. "Volunteer dies near bushfires". The Age. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  10. "Volunteer dies as bushfire fight continues". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 January 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  11. "Bushfire deaths inquest begins". Ballarat Courier. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  12. Stewart McArthur, Member for Corangamite (27 February 2006). "Victoria: January Bushfires - Grievance Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. pp. 60–62.
  13. Murphy, Matthew; Meaghan Shaw (23 January 2006). "Residents flee endangered towns". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  14. "Firefighter killed in rollover". The Age. 23 January 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  15. Russell, Mark (19 February 2006). "Family mourns firefighting wife, mother". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  16. "Firefighter dies battling Vic. blaze". safirefighter.com. SA Firefighter. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  17. Evans, Chris (13 March 2006). "Snake Valley bushfire a threat". The Age. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  18. "Crews continue to fight Vic fires". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 March 2006. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
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